Aggression Scale

Abstract: The authors describe the design and reliability of a rating scale that measures aggressive behaviors in adults and children. On the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS), aggression is divided into four categories: verbal aggression, physical aggression against objects, physical aggression against self, and physical aggression against others. In addition, specific interventions related to each aggressive event can be recorded on the OAS. The clinical and research applications of this scale are discussed.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of psychosocial outcome 10 years following traumatic brain injury (TBI) with demographic variables, injury severity, current cognitive functioning, emotional state, aggression, alcohol use, and fatigue. SETTING: Community-based follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three participants with mild to very severe TBI sustained 10 years previously and significant others. MEASURES: Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale, Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, NFI Aggression scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, neuropsychological tests of attention/processing speed, memory, and executive function. RESULTS: Psychosocial functioning was lowest in the occupational activity domain and highest in the living skills domains. Variables including education, posttraumatic amnesia duration, numerous cognitive measures, concurrent fatigue, aggression, anxiety, and depression were all significantly associated with psychosocial outcome, although the strength of correlations varied between ratings of participants with TBI and relatives. Posttraumatic amnesia duration was most strongly associated with psychosocial outcome measured by relatives; anxiety, aggression, and depression were the strongest predictors when ratings were assigned by participants with TBI. Self-reported fatigue, depression, and alcohol use were the strongest predictors of aggression. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to address problems with anxiety, depression, fatigue, and alcohol use as a possible means of improving long-term psychosocial outcome following TBI. Language: en

Abstract: This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Aggression Scale. The scale consists of 11 items designed to measure self-reported aggressive behaviors among middle school students (sixth, seventh, and eighth graders). The scale was evaluated in two independent samples of young adolescents (n = 253 and n = 8,695). Reliability scores were high in both samples, and did not vary significantly by gender, ethnicity, or grade level in school. Aggression scores also were stable in a 2-year follow-up study. Mean scores on the Aggression Scale were associated positively with teachers’ independent rating of student aggression, other measures of aggression, and known predictors of aggression. The scale is brief, is easy to administer, and focuses on overt behaviors. Thus, the Aggression Scale could be a useful tool for program evaluation and for further research on violence prevention in schools.

Abstract: The frequency of items of indirect, relational, social, verbal, and physical aggression was assessed in the school environment of 422 adolescents, using the Indirect/Social/Relational Aggression scale (ISRA), a measure that combined items from indirect, relational, and social aggression research. We also assessed the perceived harmfulness of each item. Comparing these findings with the occurrence of aggression on television, we found that adolescents were exposed to nearly 10 times more indirect, relational, and social aggression on television than they are in school. Overall, there was no sex difference in the amount of aggression reported by boys and girls. However, when examining specific items, girls reported more gossiping and boys more hitting. Girls perceived indirect, direct relational, and verbal aggression as more harmful than did boys. Limited evidence was found for a distinction between indirect, relational, and social aggression, although it was clear that they were more similar than different. Language: en